Blade lock and release mechanisms for utility knives

Abstract

A folding utility knife with a blade lock and release mechanism is provided, and the knife comprises: a handle pivotally connected to a blade holding compartment, the handle comprising at least two side walls forming a space, the space of the handle is designed to encase at least a portion of the blade holding compartment during a folded position, the blade holding compartment comprising at least one side wall having at least two internal cavities, the first cavity for holding a blade with at least two indentations, at least a portion of the blade holding compartment designed to be situated within the space of the handle during a folded position, the blade holding compartment comprises a front end, a rear end and a faceplate for covering the internal cavities, the front end of the blade compartment holder and at least a portion of the faceplate forming an opening at the front end of the blade holding compartment which allows a portion of the blade to protrude from the blade holding compartment; and a blade lock and release device comprising a moveable arm having front and rear portions, and the rear portion of the arm is pivotally attached adjacent to the rear end of the blade holding compartment, the arm is designed to fit within the second cavity of the blade holding compartment, the front portion of the arm having at least two protrusions for engagement and disengagement with the blade, the protrusions of the arm contacting the indentations of the blade during a locked position, the protrusions of the arm being moved away from the indentation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A folding utility knife comprising:
 a handle comprising an internal space; 
 a blade holding compartment pivotally connected to said handle, said blade holding compartment comprising at least one side wall having at least two internal cavities, said first cavity for holding a blade, at least a portion of said blade holding compartment designed to be situated within said space of said handle during a folded position, said blade holding compartment comprising a front end, a rear end and a faceplate for covering said internal cavities, said front end of said blade compartment holder and at least a portion of said faceplate forming an opening at said front end of said blade holding compartment which allows a portion of the blade to protrude from said blade holding compartment; and 
 a blade lock and release device comprising a moveable arm having front and rear portions, said rear portion of said arm being pivotally attached adjacent to said rear end of said blade holding compartment, said front portion of said arm having at least one protrusion for engagement and disengagement with the blade said blade lock and release device further comprises a mechanism for allowing the engagement and disengagement of said arm with the blade and at least two spring, one of said spring has opposing ends, a first end of one of said springs being attached to at least a portion of said mechanism and to at least a portion of said rear end of said blade holding mechanism, said mechanism comprises a push and slide button, said push and slide button is moved in one direction to allow said protrusions of said arm to contact the indentations of the blade during a locked position, said push and slide button is moved in another direction to allow said protrusions of said arm to be moved away from the indentations of the blade to allow for the disengagement of the blade during a released position. 
 
     
     
       2. The knife of  claim 1  further comprising an interchangeable blade having at least one side with a sharp edge for cutting, at least a portion of said blade being situated within said blade cavity of said blade holding compartment and a portion of the blade being situated outside of the blade holding compartment to expose at least a portion of the sharp edge of said blade. 
     
     
       3. The knife of  claim 1  wherein a second spring is situated between said push and slide button and said arm of said blade lock and release device. 
     
     
       4. The knife of  claim 3  wherein said second spring contacts at least a portion of said push and slide button and at least a portion of said arm of said blade lock and release device. 
     
     
       5. The knife of  claim 1  wherein said arm moves on a horizontal plane to engage and release the blade from said blade holding compartment. 
     
     
       6. The knife of  claim 5  wherein said blade lock and release device comprises a pin, said pin is designed to allow said arm to be directly and pivotally attached to said blade holding compartment. 
     
     
       7. The knife of  claim 6  wherein said pin is situated on a vertical plane. 
     
     
       8. The knife of  claim 7  wherein said arm is perpendicular relative to said pin. 
     
     
       9. The knife of  claim 1  further comprising means for securing said faceplate to said blade holding compartment. 
     
     
       10. The knife of  claim 1  wherein said arm is designed to fit within said second cavity of said blade holding device. 
     
     
       11. The knife of  claim 2  wherein said blade comprises at least one indentation which contact said protrusion of said arm during said locked position. 
     
     
       12. A folding utility knife comprising:
 a handle pivotally connected to a blade holding compartment, said handle comprising at least two side walls forming a space, said space is designed to encase at least a portion of said blade holding compartment during a folded position, said blade holding compartment comprising at least one side wall having at least two internal cavities, said first cavity for holding a blade with at least two indentations, at least a portion of said blade holding compartment designed to be situated within said space of said handle during a folded position, said blade holding compartment comprising a front end, a rear end and a faceplate for covering said internal cavities, said front end of said blade compartment holder and at least a portion of said faceplate forming an opening at said front end of said blade holding compartment which allows a portion of the blade to protrude from said blade holding compartment; and 
 a blade lock and release device comprising a moveable arm having front and rear portions, said rear portion of said arm being pivotally attached adjacent to said rear end of said blade holding compartment, said arm is designed to fit within said second cavity of said blade holding compartment, said front portion of said arm having at least two protrusions for engagement and disengagement with the blade, said blade lock and release device further comprises a mechanism for allowing the engagement and disengagement of said arm with the blade, said mechanism comprises a push and slide button and at least two springs, said first spring is situated between said push and slide button and said arm of said blade lock and release device, said first spring contacts at least a portion of said push and slide button and at least a portion of said arm of said blade lock and release device, said second spring is situated between said mechanism and said rear end of said blade holding mechanism, said second spring contacts at least a portion of said mechanism and at least a portion of said rear end of said blade holding mechanism, said push and slide button is moved in one direction to allow said protrusions of said arm to contact the indentations of the blade during a locked position, said push and slide button is moved in another direction to allow said protrusions of said arm to be moved away from the indentations of the blade to allow for the disengagement of the blade during a released position. 
 
     
     
       13. The knife of  claim 12  further comprising an interchangeable blade having at least one side with a sharp edge for cutting, at least a portion of said blade being situated within said blade cavity of said blade holding compartment and a portion of the blade being situated outside of the blade holding compartment to expose at least a portion of the sharp edge of said blade. 
     
     
       14. The knife of  claim 12  wherein said blade lock and release device further comprises a mechanism for allowing the engagement and disengagement of said arm with the blade, said mechanism comprises a push and slide button and at least one spring. 
     
     
       15. A utility knife having a blade holding compartment, said compartment comprises at least one side wall having at least two internal cavities, said first cavity for holding a blade with at least two indentations, at least a portion of said blade holding compartment designed to be situated within said space of said handle during a folded position, said blade holding compartment comprising a front end, a rear end and a faceplate for covering said internal cavities, said front end of said blade compartment holder and at least a portion of said faceplate forming an opening at said front end of said blade holding compartment which allows a portion of the blade to protrude from said blade holding compartment; and
 a blade lock and release device comprising a moveable arm having front and rear portions, said rear portion of said arm being pivotally attached adjacent to said rear end of said blade holding compartment, said arm is designed to fit within said second cavity of said blade holding compartment, said front portion of said arm having at least one protrusion for engagement and disengagement with the blade, said device comprising a push and slide mechanism allowing the engagement and disengagement of said arm with the blade, said blade lock and release device further comprising a mechanism for allowing the engagement and disengagement of said arm with the blade, said mechanism comprising a push and slide button and at least two springs, each of said first and second springs having opposing ends, said first end of said first spring contacts at least a portion of said push and slide button and said second end of said first spring contacts at least a portion of said arm of said blade lock and release device, said first end of said second spring being attached to at least a portion of said mechanism and said second end of said second spring being attached to at least a portion of said rear end of said blade holding mechanism, said push and slide button is moved in one direction to allow said protrusions of said arm to contact the indentations of the blade during a locked position, said push and slide button is moved in another direction to allow said protrusions of said arm to be moved away from the indentations of the blade to allow for the disengagement of the blade during a released position. 
 
     
     
       16. The knife of  claim 15  wherein said mechanism does not disengage with the blade when mechanism is accidentally contacted.